Phillies add Roman Quinn, two relievers to 40-man roster
To protect them from exposure to next month's Rule 5 draft, the Phillies on Friday added outfielder Roman Quinn and righthanded relievers Jimmy Cordero and Edubray Ramos to the 40-man roster.
To protect them from exposure to next month's Rule 5 draft, the Phillies on Friday added outfielder Roman Quinn and righthanded relievers Jimmy Cordero and Edubray Ramos to the 40-man roster.
Between the three additions and a waiver claim of righthander A.J. Achter from the Minnesota Twins, the Phillies currently have 37 players on their 40-man roster.
Quinn, 22, was considered the organization's best outfield prospect before it drafted Cornelius Randolph in June and acquired Nick Williams from the Texas Rangers in July's Cole Hamels trade. Quinn's ceiling remains that of an everyday major-league centerfielder but injuries have plagued him in the minor leagues.
Quinn, a converted shortstop with blazing speed, experienced a great start to last season, his first in double A, before a torn hip flexor ended his year in June. Back to full health, he is currently making up at-bats in winter ball in the Dominican Republic, where for Tigres del Licey he is hitting just .230 over 87 at-bats with eight stolen bases in nine attempts.
It is likely Quinn will begin next season back in double-A Reading with a chance to advance to triple-A Lehigh Valley during the season. Baseball America regards Quinn, a second-round draft pick in 2011, as the Phillies' eighth-best prospect. If he had been left unprotected, he all but certainly would have been selected in the Rule 5 draft.
The Phillies acquired Cordero on July 31 in the trade that sent Ben Revere to the Toronto Blue Jays. Harnessing a fastball that eclipses triple digits on the radar gun, the 24-year-old Dominican is a potential back-end of the bullpen arm who could debut as early as next season. Cordero spent most of last season in double A.
Ramos is another reliever who could reach the major leagues as early as next season. The 22-year-old Venezuelan finished last season in double A and pitched in the Arizona Fall League that wrapped up Thursday.
Ramos posted a 7.45 ERA over 9 2/3 AFL innings but allowed six of his eight earned runs in one dismal outing. He impressed in the league's recent Fall Stars Game, displaying a 94 to 96 m.p.h. fastball and a low-to-mid 80s slider. He struck out the only two batters he faced in the game.
By virtue of finishing with baseball's worst record last season, the Phillies will pick first in this year's Rule 5 draft, which will take place on Dec. 10, the final day of the winter meetings in Nashville.